Friday, April 22, 2011

Citrusy Hot Cross Buns

It’s a lovely windy sunny spring, and all the spring flowers are blooming. The aroma of these freshly baked hot cross buns hangs around in my kitchen and it certainly adds the joy of making them. Hot Cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday and Easter in Christian households, beyond the religious significance, hot cross buns are rich in folklore. Eating one is a symbol of friendship for the coming year when shared with another. Sailors would often bring the buns aboard to guard against shipwrecks and hanging a hot cross bun in the kitchen would help protect against fires and would guarantee that all breads baked in the kitchen would turn out well. Who knew?

This year I used the same recipe from my previous posting but with some minor changes.

1. In a mixing bowl of a stand mixer with hook attachment, mix all the ingredients together except for the butter and dried fruits. Mix and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. If the dough is too sticky add extra flour (1 tbsp) at a time to the dough.
2. Mix in the dry fruits and butter and continue to knead until smooth. Lightly oil the bowl, cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and let the dough rest at a warm place until double in size. This will take 1 ½ to 2 hours.
3. On a lightly floured work surface, punch down the dough, shape the dough into a log and cut into 9 - 10 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and put it into the baking sheet. Cover with a plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm place until almost doubled in size.
4. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degree F. Prepare the flour paste. Combine the flour and water, stir into a smooth paste, add a little bit more water if it is too thick. Put into a piping bag.
5. Brush the bread with some egg wash, cut the piping bag and pipe flour paste over the top of the bread to create a cross. Baked the buns for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.

Mmm, your buns would make for one sweet Easter breakfast. They look so fluffy and soft. I have a sweet treat linky party going on at my blog and I'd like to invite you to stop by and link your hot cross buns up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/04/sweets-for-saturday-14_22.html

Gertrude...these are nice buns...long time no make hot cross buns :) yours looks yummy and now the weather is warmer so you can make more buns and share with me :)Btw I've tag u in an Easter Game @ 5 Recipes To Celebrate Easter!! Pls come & join in the party :)

These look lovely! I admit that it took reaching my adult years for me to really appreciate hot cross buns. As a kid, they were not my thing. I think it was the candied fruit that I turned up my nose at. But now? Oh, I love them freshly baked just like these.

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About Me

I was born and raised in Malaysia and now live in Northern California, USA with my wonderful husband Carlos. I love to bake and cook. It is very relaxing and I find my creativity flowing in the kitchen. I creates this blog to record all my cooking and baking adventures and also share my tested recipes with you.
I don’t consider myself an expert but all the recipes here are tried and tested by me, unless noted otherwise.
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